Chapter 65: Disappointment
Unprepared for the crowd waiting outside, Hua Zhi instantly concealed her exhaustion.
Madam Zhu hurried forward to ask, "Is everything settled?"
"Everything's settled."
"You've worked hard." Madam Zhu patted her slightly cold hands, unexpectedly recalling her own youth at fifteen or sixteen. At the same age, she had been bashfully preparing for marriage, while her daughter was gradually becoming the Hua family's pillar.
Though Qi Shi and Xia Shi remained unconvinced, looking at each incident—wasn't every decision and burden borne by Zhi Er?
Qi Shi and Xia Shi also repeatedly expressed gratitude for her hard work, their eyes frequently darting toward Shaoyao's face. No wonder she always wore a hat—her face was disfigured. They wondered where the eldest young lady had met such a person, and why Old Madam didn't intervene, even instructing them to treat her with proper respect!
Disliking their stares, Hua Zhi stepped forward to shield Shaoyao behind her. Only then did the two awkwardly avert their gaze.
Song Momo, serving Wu Shi, led a group of maids forward in deep bows. Too weary for pleasantries, Hua Zhi gestured vaguely for them to rise and said, "Tidy the room thoroughly and find a way to eliminate the smell of blood. Tomorrow should be fine weather—if the wind isn't strong, open the windows and doors for a while. Don't worry about drafts; it will only benefit Fourth Aunt, with no harm."
"Yes."
"When Fourth Aunt wakes, ask if she wishes to send word to her maternal family. If she does, you may go directly without seeking further permission."
"Yes. This servant thanks the eldest young lady on behalf of our mistress for your great kindness."
Hua Zhi waved her hand and turned to Chen Momo. "How is Grandmother?"
"The same as this afternoon—she sleeps intermittently but wakes frequently. Knowing Fourth Lady was in labor, she sent me to await news."
"Tell Grandmother that Fourth Aunt is fine."
"Yes."
"Cao Cao and I will return to eat and change clothes before visiting Grandmother."
With this confirmation, Chen Momo immediately bowed and departed. Though aware the eldest young lady was utterly exhausted, concerning Old Madam, she could only feign ignorance of her fatigue.
Hua Zhi addressed the elders, "Mother, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, please return and rest. It's late."
Madam Zhu straightened her daughter's bloodstained clothes. "You're the most exhausted. Hurry back—don't worry about me."
"Alright."
While she managed to hold up outside, upon entering her courtyard, Hua Zhi couldn't even lift a finger. Ying Chun and Nian Qiu had to support her to change clothes.
Shaoyao, initially listless, brightened instantly when Fu Dong arrived with maids carrying a table full of food. Her energy returned, and she buried herself in eating.
Hua Zhi had little appetite and set down her chopsticks after a few bites.
Fu Dong wanted to urge her to eat more, but Ying Chun subtly shook her head. Instead, she offered a cup of ginseng tea, persuading her to drink a few sips, then relayed the information her mistress wished to know.
"This afternoon, Lu Xiansheng added an extra hour of martial arts training for the young masters, so they returned later than usual. But they seemed in excellent spirits, unaffected. The sixth young master asked after you—I didn't conceal the truth. Later, he went to Old Madam's courtyard and afterward gathered all the young masters to his own, saying he wanted to share nighttime conversations with his brothers tonight."
Hua Zhi sighed inwardly. Circumstances forced maturity, and Berlin seemed to have been given a growth accelerator lately. For the Hua family, this was beneficial, but as his sister, her heart ached for the hardships he endured in the process.She should remember Mr. Lu's kindness—it was his genuine care for the Hua family that prompted him to take such initiative.
Watching Shaoyao eat with her head buried in the bowl, Hua Zhi leisurely instructed, "Fu Dong, the beef should be marinated by now, right? Once it's cooked, send some of each variety to Mr. Lu."
"Yes."
Shaoyao looked up with her mouth full, making muffled sounds through her nose since her speech was obstructed.
"You'll get your share too."
Hua Zhi didn’t want to ask how precious the medicine Shaoyao had used for Fourth Aunt today was. Anything Shaoyao treasured and kept in her medicine chest was invaluable. Yet, no matter how expensive, for a simple girl like Shaoyao, nothing compared to a friendship built on sincere treatment. Hua Zhi understood Shaoyao well and couldn’t bear to disappoint her.
"There’s one more thing."
Hua Zhi turned to Ying Chun.
"Second Aunt sent someone over, but unfortunately, it happened when all four gates were locked today. The gatekeepers didn’t dare make a decision on their own and reported it to me. I didn’t feel it was appropriate to let them in, so I told them to come back tomorrow."
"Finally, there’s some movement. I just wonder if it’s the kind we’ll be happy about."
"If it were First Aunt, I wouldn’t know, but with Second Aunt, it probably won’t be too bad."
The two aunts of the Hua family had completely different temperaments. The eldest aunt, as the legitimate eldest daughter, was always domineering and, to put it bluntly, somewhat of a bully at home. The second aunt, born of a concubine, was soft-hearted and pure, like a dodder flower—a delicate woman. If the Hua family had remained prosperous, her life would have been fine, but now that the family had fallen, it was uncertain whether her husband’s family still cherished past affections.
"Was the message delivered to Third Aunt?"
"I went in person."
Hua Zhi let the matter rest, saying no more. She knew exactly how capable the maids she had trained herself were.
Meanwhile, Old Madam was listening to Chen Momo’s report about Fourth Aunt.
"I heard it clearly—Fourth Madam indeed suffered a massive hemorrhage. Though I don’t know what method Miss Shaoyao used, she truly managed to save Fourth Madam’s life. It was like snatching her back from the King of Hell."
"What were Madam Zhu and the others doing at the time?"
Chen Momo hesitated, unsure whether to speak the truth.
"Speak."
"Yes." Chen Momo bowed her head. "Madam Zhu’s attendant, Lin Momo, went in to help. Madam Zhu herself was escorted back by the servants attending Eldest Miss. Second and Third Madams probably left when they saw Madam Zhu go, only returning after hearing about Fourth Madam’s hemorrhage."
Old Madam couldn’t hide her disappointment. Even Zhi Er, an unmarried girl, had the courage to enter the delivery room, yet those who had given birth themselves hadn’t thought to lend a hand. Over the years, she had been too indulgent—if her daughters-in-law lacked sense, it was because she, as their mother-in-law, had failed in her duty.
Su Momo signaled for Chen Momo to leave, then brought a cup of medicinal tea to Old Madam’s lips, soothing her, "Why upset yourself over them? Think of Eldest Miss—which family has someone as capable as her?"
Old Madam’s expression softened slightly. She took a few sips of tea before pushing it away. "Tell me again about the arrangements she made earlier."
Su Momo smiled inwardly—Old Madam had already heard this twice. But without delay, she meticulously recounted every detail of the arrangements Hua Zhi had made after the thunderstorm.As she listened, the Old Madam felt the pent-up frustration from her daughter-in-law's incompetence gradually dissipate. She admitted to herself that even if she had taken charge, she couldn't have handled things better or more thoroughly than Zhi Er had.
"This humble servant has been thinking lately - if I failed to recognize the young mistress's capabilities, that was my own shortsightedness. But look at those senior maids serving her - each one is truly exceptional. Yet all these years, they never revealed even a hint of their abilities. It's true what they say - like master, like servant. Only our young mistress could have trained such maids."
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